Vrouwelijk naakt 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Vrouwelijk naakt, with graphite. What's interesting to me is how the Israels let's the graphite do the work. It's a real process, like watching someone think. Look at how the lines thicken and thin, suggesting form without defining it completely. You can see the pressure he applied, the speed of his hand, almost like feeling his energy. The texture of the paper becomes part of the drawing too. It is allowed to show through, which creates a kind of visual vibration. The face, for example, is built up with these quick, scribbly marks, but they come together to suggest a smile, or a moment of contemplation. You can tell that Israels was influenced by Impressionism, and that the work of Edgar Degas may have played a part in his understanding of the use of line. Ultimately, for me, art is always a conversation, a back and forth between artists across time.